Comparison Essay between the book A Separate Peace and The English Patient

War’s influence on relationships and identity in "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje and "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles Name: Institutional affiliation: Course: Date: Introduction Published in 1992, “The English Patient” by Michael Ondaatje is centered on the protagonist Almasy. Also known as the knowledgeable Englishman, he is considered the “black screen” through which other characters such as Hana the nurse, and Kip the Sikh Sapper reflect their wishes and thoughts at an Italian Villa. Through their union, they uncover secrets of their past and the emotional scars they share. Hana cares for the severely burned Englishman and takes her time to know how she got injured. According to the Englishman, he "fell burning into the desert" from a plane. In contrast, "A Separate Peace," a novel by John Knowles published in 1959, is set in a fictional Devon School, a boy's preparatory school in New Hampshire, and as narrated by Gene Forrester through a reflection on his youth alongside his friend Finny, the story focuses on the themes of friendship, identity, and life during World War II. Both novels "The English Patient” and "A Separate Peace" deeply explore the impacts of war on relationships and identity, thus illustrating how conflict serves as a major catalyst in human disconnections and transformations. Subtopic Statement: The impact of war on personal identity and relationships Set-up & Quote #1 (Book A) Ondaatje’s novel portrays war as a major destabilizer in several aspects. As seen through the protagonist, Almásy, war impacts both identities and relationships. According to him and based on his experiences in the war, he deeply demonstrates the diverse aspects of personality hidden from the outside world. He says: "We die containing a richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves. I wish for all this to be marked on my body when I am dead. I believe in such cartography" (Ondaatje, p. 261). In this quote, the author emphasizes more about Almasy’s past including his relationships and actions during the war. Elaborate (Why is the quotation significant?) The quote is significant in the novel because it reiterates the now complex and yet fragmented identity of Almasy post-war. War as told through Almasy’s perspectives has disoriented him and significantly interwoven various aspects of his life, something that proves that his new identity is majorly inseparable from the events of the war. All these experiences and relationships now contribute to a new sense of identity, one filled with discoveries as he tries to further seek clarity on who they are. It reveals more about a character who is not only shaped by war but also lost within several harsh experiences. Set-up & Quote #2 (Book B) On the other hand, ‘A Separate Peace’ shows how the war affected the friendship between Gene and Finny who as told by the author were young boys studying at a boarding school during the Second World War (WWII). The war context enhances their character development and the evolution of their friendship as their problems become more extreme. Gene begins to ponder on the change of events between him and his friend Finny and has now understood that war is not only physical but also internal. He says and I quote: "It seemed clear that wars were not made by generations and their special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in the human heart" (Knowles, p. 201). This realization by Gene comes at a critical point in the novel where he starts developing an appreciation for the finer aspects of the human character and understanding the roots of conflict. Elaborate (Why is the quotation significant?) Given this particular quote, we can conclude that Gene has learned and understood several powerful concepts. First, war is not only unworthy but also destructive as it affects not only the external world but also the internal world including friendship between the two close friends. Secondly, that ‘inner war’ affects friendship and has already impacted the friendship between him and Phineas. Overall the insight into the nature of war illustrates the theme of the external conflict which is often a reflection of internal conflict. It further emphasizes how global conflicts such as WWII penetrated the private sphere of the people including characters and changed their outlooks and behaviors. Gene believes that the darkness existing in the human heart is responsible for the existence of wars. Connect A+B proving subtopic The two quotes show that war is capable of bringing about significant changes in the personal and relationship dimensions of individuals. The changes in the characters’ lives in “The English Patient” and “A Separate Peace” showcase how external conflict often mirrors internal one. As narrated and told through experiences from the characters from the two novels, internal conflict can start and worsen the impact of physical battle. This is seen through the narration of Almásy who now lives in fragmented subjectivity just like Gene who now lives in disillusionment. Overall, the struggles of war as told by the authors...